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 “first principles of the oracles of God” Hebrews 5:3  “elementary principles of Christ” Hebrews 6:1-2  But, there are “First, First Principles” that precede these and require a degree of understanding and appreciation or the “elementary principles of Christ” will not be fully understood or applied correctly. 2

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e.g. thus Concepts are the soil from which we draw conclusions. I IIIII IV C ONCEPTS A concept is a mental picture of something. C ONCLUSIONS therefore Behaviors, Attitudes & Practices B ELIEF OR C ONCEPT Proverbs 4:23: Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 23:7: For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Many, if not all, the problems in the religious world today are the result of man’s incorrectly held concepts. produce L OW E STIMATE OF D EITY (wrong concept) Acts 17:16-32 Incorrect concept of God resulted in them drawing the wrong conclusion concerning morality P RACTICE : Gross immorality Romans 1:20-32 Man behaves, practices, or lives according to his… The CONCEPT must be corrected FIRST! CONCLUSION: 1. If our CONCEPT is wrong, conclusions will be wrong; and behavior/practices cannot be right. 2. We need to keep going back to “the old paths” (Jer. 6:16); asking, “Do I have the right concept?” AND REMEMBER: 3. It is what we think we know already, that often prevents us from learning.

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Romans 1:18-32: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 4

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Romans 1:18-32: 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 5

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Romans 1:18-32: 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. 6

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Psalm 19:1-3 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. 8

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Material Universe Universal principle: something cannot come from nothing Every effect must have a cause There had to be something prior to the material universe To bring into existence requires power That power had to exist before the material universe existed 9

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Power had to exist prior to the material universe Thus, it had to be a power that could exist independent of time, space and matter Eternal power Existence of the material universe attests to the existence of a power that is an eternal power This eternal power is also deity The order of intelligence must be of a different classification than the things it brought into existence 10

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Creator vs. Creature Potter is superior to the clay in both terms of power and intelligence Potter vs. Clay Analogous to the difference between the potter and the clay (Rom. 9) Anyone who objectively examines the material universe understands this! No excuse for not knowing an eternal power and deity exists 11 Acts 14:17

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 Do we fully appreciate God’s superiority to man?! Consider the complexity of our amazing universe: Homeostasis, we take it for granted! Homeostasis, we take it for granted! Human body consists of ~100 trillion cells, 10 -6 meters thick, human hair 1,000 times wider! Human body consists of ~100 trillion cells, 10 -6 meters thick, human hair 1,000 times wider! Physiology of vision, we take it for granted too! Physiology of vision, we take it for granted too! 18

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 “did not glorify Him as God” “nor were they thankful” “nor were they thankful” “but became futile in their thoughts” “but became futile in their thoughts” “and their foolish hearts were darkened” “and their foolish hearts were darkened” “professing to be wise” “professing to be wise” “they became fools” “they became fools” 20

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 Because there is an eternal power which is deity: We must look up to God and be both awed and bowed in His presence. We must look up to God and be both awed and bowed in His presence. We must recognize our complete and total dependence upon Him which should produce thankfulness on our part! We must recognize our complete and total dependence upon Him which should produce thankfulness on our part! What was the case then and now? v. 21 What was the case then and now? v. 21 21

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“There are only two possible explanations as to how life arose: Spontaneous generation arising to evolution or a supernatural creative act of God…There is no other possibility. Spontaneous generation was scientifically disproved 120 years ago by Louis Pasteur and others, but that just leaves us with only one other possibility…that life came as a supernatural act of creation by God, but I can’t accept that philosophy because I do not want to believe in God. Therefore I choose to believe in that which I know is scientifically impossible, spontaneous generation leading to evolution.” (p. 46 of Darwin’s Demise; Dr. George Wald, professor emeritus of neurobiology at Harvard University received the Nobel Prize in 1967 for work in the biology of vision.) 22

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“There are only two possible explanations as to how life arose: Spontaneous generation arising to evolution or a supernatural creative act of God…There is no other possibility. Spontaneous generation was scientifically disproved 120 years ago by Louis Pasteur and others, but that just leaves us with only one other possibility…that life came as a supernatural act of creation by God, but I can’t accept that philosophy because I do not want to believe in God. Therefore I choose to believe in that which I know is scientifically impossible, spontaneous generation leading to evolution.” (p. 46 of Darwin’s Demise; Dr. George Wald, professor emeritus of neurobiology at Harvard University received the Nobel Prize in 1967 for his work in the biology of vision.) 22

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 Failure to look up and enthrone God and be thankful results in God allowing us to “stew in our own juice”! “…God…gave them up” (v. 24) “…God…gave them up” (v. 24) “…God gave them up” (v. 26) “…God gave them up” (v. 26) “…God gave them over” (v. 28) “…God gave them over” (v. 28) Judicial wrath of God! Judicial wrath of God! 23

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 What is sin? “sin is the transgression of the law” 1 Jn. 3:4 “sin is the transgression of the law” 1 Jn. 3:4 But, no codified law here! But, no codified law here! Law here existed since creation and was passed down orally by the patriarchs. Law here existed since creation and was passed down orally by the patriarchs. 25

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 All sin is first and foremost against God! The existence of eternal power and deity implies law. The existence of eternal power and deity implies law. Potter vs. clay, but God created man with a free will. Potter vs. clay, but God created man with a free will. When you sin what comes to your mind? Social consequences or obligation to God? Lk. 15:18, 21 When you sin what comes to your mind? Social consequences or obligation to God? Lk. 15:18, 21 26